PepsiCo Foods North America unveiled an initiative Wednesday to expand opportunities in the agriculture industry for young people, who make up just 9% of U.S. farming.
The effort, called the Planting Pathways Initiative, will start with pilot partnerships that provide job pathways both on the farm and within the agriculture sector at large. Initial partners include Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Farm Foundation.
The initiative is part of the company’s PepsiCo Positive (pep+), a plan announced in 2021 to transform the CPG giant’s supply chain and put environmental and social progress at the forefront.
“PepsiCo has a business stake and responsibility to help grow a resilient and impactful supply chain from the seeds in the field to the products on the shelf to the many people at home enjoying our products,” Margaret Henry, PepsiCo vice president of sustainable and regenerative agriculture, said in a statement. “I’m proud these partnerships reinforce our commitment to innovation in agriculture.”
The multi-year partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa aims to provide opportunities for underrepresented and beginning farmers to build strong business plans and thrive in the sector, offering coaching, capital, robust networks and training opportunities.
PepsiCo’s partnership with the Farm Foundation, meanwhile, will create a two-year cohort program called Field to Future, giving college students career development support within agriculture. In addition to mentorships and scholarships, select individuals will be invited to participate in a two-year paid internship at PepsiCo.
Farming has the oldest workforce of any sector, and engaging young people in agriculture is seen as critical to long-term food security. The average age of the U.S. farmer is roughly 58, according to the latest Census of Agriculture, with the number of farmers over 65 making up one-third of all producers.
A growing interest in the environment, sustainability and self-sufficiency among young people, however, has increased interest in agriculture. While producers below the age of 35 make up only 9% of the industry, that’s close to a 4% increase over 2017.